Athens News Agency: Daily News Bulletin in English, 01-03-14

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From: The Athens News Agency at <http://www.ana.gr/>

CONTENTS

[01] New Athens airport safe, ICAO president says

[02] Simitis names new ATHOC managing director; Dow executive picked

[03] Papandreou tours Paphos district on last day of Cyprus tour

[04] Gov't: Ankara's best interests served by implementing UN's Cyprus resolutions

[05] Turkish Cypriot leader says Turkish Cypriots will never recognize Republic of Cyprus

[06] Tsohatzopoulos, Grizold discuss Balkans security

[07] Simitis confers with education minister on common education policies ahead of EU summit

[08] Greek Alternate foreign minister, Romanian foreign minister meeting

[09] Coalition of the Left and Progress leader holds talks in FYROM on current developments in region

[10] Risk of tiring Greek people by unimportant matters, Interior minister warns

[11] Israeli mission briefs on latest Mideast situation; ties with Athens termed excellent

[12] FINABEL annual conference of army chiefs begins in Rome on Thursday

[13] Church to announce exact number of signatures collected for referendum on IDs issue in May

[14] New budget drafting system to involve parliamentary proposals

[15] European economy to weather US slowdown, Papantoniou says

[16] Minister says first part of social insurance study ready soon

[17] Minister of Macedonia and Thrace says many new opportunities to strengthen economic cooperation with the US

[18] PM Simitis holds talks with businesswomen funded by the Community Support Framework

[19] German ambassador tours installations of Hellenic Vehicles Industry

[20] Greek budget revenues up 8.1 percent in February

[21] Greece to launch new ferry lines in the Aegean Sea

[22] Ship owners disagree with lower age limit for vessels

[23] International economy conference in Athens

[24] Goldman Sachs ranks Cosmote as emerging market out performer

[25] Greek stocks follow world markets' decline

[26] Environment minister presents time plan for extending metro

[27] Operational action program aims at strengthening ties with overseas Greeks

[28] Avramopoulos hails INKA contribution at Town Hall event

[29] UK-Australia 'Kangaroo' air race contestants stop over on Crete

[30] Purloined Acropolis fragment returned by anonymous former tourist

[31] Prison authorities submit report on the Passaris escape case, to public order minister

[32] US welcomes cooperation between Cyprus and Yugoslavia in transfer of funds issue

[33] President Clerides begins two-day official visit to Athens on May 2

[34] Greek FM says leaving Cyprus with optimism over island's dynamism

[35] Greek foreign minister proclaimed honorary citizen of Paphos

[01] New Athens airport safe, ICAO president says

MONTREAL, 14/03/2001 (ANA I. Frangouli)

Kotaite said that that, during his visit in Athens last summer, he visited the site of the new airport and was impressed by the new super modern installations that made it very secure.

He added that an ICAO team of experts has studied the safety systems of the new airport and found that all the necessary measures were taken and the necessary technical infrastructure was acquired to provide for the total safety of air -transport.

Niotis is on an official visit to Canada, until Friday.

[02] Simitis names new ATHOC managing director; Dow executive picked

Athens, 14/03/2001 (ANA)

The appointment of veteran Dow Chemical Co. executive Ioannis Spanudakis, 48, was announced by the government spokesman during a press conference, where the latter emphasized that the selection was personally made by Prime Minister Costas Simitis.

The latest appointment completes a significant overhaul among ATHOC's leadership since late last April, following national elections in Greece and warnings by the International Olympic Committee (IOC) to get preparations moving.

The appointment of Gianna Angelopoulos-Daskalaki as ATHOC president, again by Simitis, reinvigorated efforts to prepare for Games over the past few months, something the IOC has praised in its recent on-site inspections. During their last highly publicized inspection last month, IOC officials stressed that starting construction of several 2004-related venues in the next six months is the Lausanne-based organizations greatest concern, something also paramount to "determining the Games' quality".

Angelopoulos-Daskalaki had earned praise and widespread recognition in Greece for her leadership in gaining Athens' bid to host the 2004 Olympics.

Spanudakis received a BS in chemistry from the University of Athens in 1977 before completing his doctorate in material sciences from London University in 1981. His only government stint was between 1983-84 when he served as an adviser to the Greek ministry of industry and technology, before being hired by Dow in the mid 1980s.

Spanudakis -- fluent in Greek, English, German and a working knowledge of French -- served as global business director for Dow Chemical since 1996, with expertise in the polypropylene (PP) sector.

[03] Papandreou tours Paphos district on last day of Cyprus tour

NICOSIA, 14/03/2001 (ANA - I. Afendouli)

He described Paphos as the outermost limit of Europe in the southeast Mediterranean, and said it could play an important role in the European Union's relations with the Middle East.

Accompanied by Ambassador Stavros Lambrinidis, he then presented the Olympic truce program at the Paphos lyceum with Olympic medallists Costas Panou and Michalis Mouroutsos.

During the course of the tour, Papandreou visited both a Orthodox Christian monastery and a mosque, while he stressed that the restoration of the latter by the Cyprus government indicated its readiness and willingness to reunite the island and to become a member of the European Union.

"We are talking," Papandreou said, "about a multicultural Europe. This is why EU accession is a guarantee of a free Cyprus. Past history has often demonstrated peoples' fear of difference. But a new age has now begun in the region, where without fear and with respect for differences, we can turn diversity into strength."

Asked about the participation of Turkish-Cypriot leader Rauf Denktash in the EU accession negotiations, Papandreou stressed that the accession course was in the interests of both communities on Cyprus.

Papandreou is due to return to Athens on Tuesday evening.

[04] Gov't: Ankara's best interests served by implementing UN's Cyprus resolutions

Athens, 14/03/2001 (ANA)

A government spokesman made the comments in response to a recent statement by Turkish Foreign Minister Ismail Cem, who was reported to have called for a "more objective stance" by Washington over the long-standing Cyprus issue.

Spokesman Dimitris Reppas said Ankara's views regarding the Cyprus question differ markedly from those of the international community.

Turkish troops have occupied roughly one-third of the island republic's territory since an invasion in July 1974.

[05] Turkish Cypriot leader says Turkish Cypriots will never recognize Republic of Cyprus

NICOSIA, 14/03/2001 (ANA - G. Leonidas)

Denktash says the Turkish Cypriots have the right to also expect from Greece, being a guarantor power, not to disregard the fact that in Cyprus there is not only the Greek Cypriot side but also the Turkish Cypriots who will never recognize the Republic of Cyprus.

He also threatens not to accept these factors ever and also expresses his opposition to Cyprus's accession negotiations with the EU.

[06] Tsohatzopoulos, Grizold discuss Balkans security

Athens, 14/03/2001 (ANA)

The two ministers signed an agreement for the participation of Slovenian officers at the Multinational Forces Training Center in Kilkis, northern Greece.

They also welcomed the KFOR agreement with the Yugoslav military forces for monitoring of the demilitarized security zones between Yugoslavia and Kosovo for confronting new phenomena of violence in the area, and also called on the international community to maintain a similar stance vis-a-vis the crisis in FYROM.

Grizold also called on all the Balkan countries to improve their bilateral relations so as to have a stabilizing influence in the region.

Replying to press questions, Tsohatzopoulos said the clash between NATO and Yugoslavia was related to the country's system of authority and not to the Yugoslav and Serb people, regardless of the fact that "its results could have been achieved in a different way".

Now, he added, cooperation between the international community and Yugoslavia was a "clear-cut priority and policy choice".

He said that the purpose of the military cooperation between KFOR and Yugoslavia was to contribute to ending the violence and terrorism that undermined security in the region.

Grizold said that there were "no enemies" in the region, but rather "complicated problems to which solutions must be found through dialogue".

[07] Simitis confers with education minister on common education policies ahead of EU summit

Athens, 14/03/2001 (ANA)

The premiers advisers Nikos Themelis and George Papadimitriou also attended the one-hour meeting.

After the meeting, Efthymiou said that "we drafted the Greek position for the EU summit in Stockholm," which is to take place March 23-25, "during which there will also be a discussion on common education policies".

[08] Greek Alternate foreign minister, Romanian foreign minister meeting

BUCHAREST, 14/03/2001 (ANA)

They both said that specific initiatives should to be taken by Balkan governments to avoid the worsening of the situation in the region.

Papazoi said that "Athens will continue to support Romania in the rapprochement of its strategic objectives - accession to the European Union and NATO," because it wants the countries of the region to constitute a part of the same infrastructure of stability.

Bucharest is facing with concern the developments in the Balkans and underlines the need for public opinion to be made sensitive of the situation as the crisis will have unfavorable repercussions on the national economies and on investment activity.

Papazoi presented to the Romanian side a series of specific proposals for the granting of know-how to Romania for its adaptation to the European acquis communautaire.

Bucharest expressed its satisfaction over the Greek reconstruction plan for the Balkans and foresees the granting of 75 million Euros to Romania, which is committed to examine ways for the best possible utilization of this aid.

[09] Coalition of the Left and Progress leader holds talks in FYROM on current developments in region

SKOPJE, 14/03/2001 (ANA - M. Vichou)

Constantopoulos also met with President Boris Trajkovski, main opposition leader Branco Crvenkovski, the Albanian Democratic Party secretary Bedredin Ibrahimi and Parliament's deputy president.

Referring to the situation currently prevailing in the region, Constantopoulos said "it is clear that tension being created by extremists is not by chance and will last. Stability and security should be secured for the common interest of Balkan countries because nobody will stay out of destabilization, which is spreading. The common strategy of all Balkan countries should be the non-disputing of existing borders, respect for territorial integrity, non-interference in domestic affairs and the accession of all countries to European organizations."

Constantopoulos also called on international organizations to react since "what is taking place had been announced in the early '90s and now we virtually have a repetition of Kosovo's scenario in FYROM."

He said Greece should undertake initiatives to secure stability and included the presence of his party's delegation in Skopje in this framework.

Talks held by the Coalition's delegation in the country led to the mutual assessment that "a possible federalization of the country will not lead to Switzerland but to Bosnia."

[10] Risk of tiring Greek people by unimportant matters, Interior minister warns

Athens, 14/03/2001 (ANA)

After their two hour meeting, Papandreou told reporters that the ruling party and government needed to break out of "the climate of introversion and fulfill the expectations of the Greek people, because there is the risk of tiring them with unimportant matters".

"We must meet the people's expectations, fulfill our pre-electoral commitments, and this can be effected with PASOK's overture to society, with efficient policies and reinforcement of the social forces that support and look to PASOK," she said.

"We in PASOK will do this together, as always," Papandreou said, adding that PASOK was "constantly renewing itself and is able to overcome any problems and meet the needs and expectations of the Greek people".

[11] Israeli mission briefs on latest Mideast situation; ties with Athens termed excellent

Athens, 14/03/2001 (ANA)

The briefing came on the same day as a visiting EU Commissioner to the area said Israel was "radicalizing Palestinians with its policy" of sealing off Palestinian towns.

On his part, Israel's ambassador to Greece reiterated that "no negotiations will take place as long as violence exists", alluding to a six-month cycle of violence in the West Bank and the Gaza Strip.

"I believe they're attempting to (Palestinian leadership) head for a Kosovo model to the conflict," Envoy Ran Curiel said, referring to a "war of attrition" and attempts to "internationalize" the conflict in the West Bank and Gaza. He also noted that Israel has been in a virtual "state of war" for the last six months.

"Israel's dilemma is to secure its citizens' safety ... and to minimize the collective impact on the Palestinian population," he said, echoing statements on Tuesday by Israeli Foreign Minister Shimon Peres.

While Israel began to slowly ease blockades in the West Bank on Tuesday, following international pressure and even criticism from within the new Sharon government, Curiel emphasized that the Palestinian Authority must "must do its share in preventing violence." In terms of international contacts, EU Commissioner for external affairs Chris Patten and Swedish Foreign Minister Anna Lindh were in Israel for talks with both sides on Tuesday.

Replying to questions over recent visits to several Arab countries in the Mideast by both Greece's foreign and defense ministers, Curiel said there are no dramatic changes in Greek-Arab and Greek-Israeli relations, noting that Athens' good relations with one side doesn't preclude good relations with another.

"Anyway, I don't think this is the intention of your government, at least this is my impression," he said, while citing Greek Defense Minister Akis Tsohatzopoulos' statements in Damascus recently defending a policy that improves and furthers ties with Israel.

Along those lines, Israeli officials didn't exclude the possibility of an exchange of high-ranking visits between Greek and Israeli leaders of the upcoming period.

Asked if there is a danger that the dominant Israeli-Palestinian question and the fluid Mideast situation could consume the new Israeli government's attention, to the detriment of relations with other countries, Curiel said:

"We're a country that can do two things at once. We don't see activities vis-a-vis other countries, especially Greece, as reducing. But the major issue of Israeli citizens' security takes precedence, of course," he said.

One area of growing Greek-Israeli cooperation has been in the security sector, especially in light of the Olympics Games in Athens in three years.

A high-ranking Israeli internal security official met with Greek officials in Athens last week for talks focusing squarely on security cooperation issues.

The head of the office of Israel's public security minister, Maj.-Gen. David Tsur, held talks with Greek police and public order ministry officials.

[12] FINABEL annual conference of army chiefs begins in Rome on Thursday

Athens, 14/03/2001 (ANA)

Taking part in FINABEL are the Army General Staff chiefs whose countries are both full members of NATO and the Western European Union.

The aim of the forum is to promote cooperation on issues of mutual interest between the land forces of the 10 member-states.

The FINABEL members are France, Italy, The Netherlands, Belgium, Luxembourg, Germany, the United Kingdom, Spain, Greece and Portugal.

[13] Church to announce exact number of signatures collected for referendum on IDs issue in May

Athens, 14/03/2001 (ANA)

The Church has set March 25 as the last day for the collection of signatures in favor of a referendum being held in the country on whether people want their religion listed in identity cards.

After the meeting, a presentation will be made of identity card checks in the presence of members of the press and the exact number of signatures collected will be announced by the Church either in the middle or at the end of May.

Ierotheos declined any comment on the number of signatures collected so far.

[14] New budget drafting system to involve parliamentary proposals

Athens, 14/03/2001 (ANA)

"It is really, an oversight, for the General Director of the state accounting office to be able to increase or decrease funding, but not for the Parliament to be able to do the same," Drys said.

Thus every year the finance ministry will table the early draft of the budget, that will then be discussed by the members of the Parliament's Economic Affairs Committee in November.

The committee would then propose changes, before the final draft is tabled in the Parliament's plenum for approval, the deputy minister said.

Another major change in the way the Parliament would gain a new role in controlling government spending will be the introduction of a monthly report to Parliament, detailing the progress of each ministry's budget, both spending and credits, as well as delays or over spending "so as to make impossible the use of creative accounting," Drys said.

As part of those changes, Drys said that beginning in 2002 the phenomenon of transfers of credits and spending from the budget of one year to the next would stop, thus ending a practice that allowed for the newer budget to look better than it really was, Drys noted.

Also the committee would check on the progress of the budget every four months, while he said that all budgets of ministries would be drafted on a three-year term basis, and in the future it may be possible to draft state the state budget on a two-year term basis, he added.

Finally, he accepted, a proposal by main opposition New Democracy to disassociate Parliamentary discussion of the budget with that of the end of year account report.

[15] European economy to weather US slowdown, Papantoniou says

Athens, 14/03/2001 (ANA)

Speaking to reporters after a meeting with Prime Minister Costas Simitis, Papantoniou said he discussed with the premier preparation issues ahead of an EU council in Stockholm at the end of March and the results of an ECOFIN meeting on Monday in Brussels.

Commenting on current ruling PASOK party's internal affairs, Papantoniou said the government was facing more serious and fundamental problems and that the Greek people knew what these issues were.

[16] Minister says first part of social insurance study ready soon

Athens, 14/03/2001 (ANA)

Not long after, the government expects to receive the second part of the report, which contains the consultants' conclusions, Yiannitsis told reporters.

He was speaking after a meeting with National Economy and Finance Minister Yiannos Papantoniou.

Yiannitsis is due to meet Prime Minister Costas Simitis on Wednesday for talks on reform to the social insurance system.

[17] Minister of Macedonia and Thrace says many new opportunities to strengthen economic cooperation with the US

Athens, 14/03/2001 (ANA)

In addressing an official dinner given by the Chamber of Commerce and Industry in Komotini, northern Greece, for US Ambassador to Athens Nicholas Burns, the minister said that "the effort for Balkan reconstruction constitutes an important field of joint action in which businesses of northern Greece, and Thrace in particular, can play an active role."

Paschalidis said Thrace is a region providing favorable conditions and considerable incentives and expressed the hope that Burn's tour will be of help in this direction.

[18] PM Simitis holds talks with businesswomen funded by the Community Support Framework

Athens, 14/03/2001 (ANA)

Simitis placed emphasis on the "Women's Enterprise Program" being implemented by the government as an individual activity included in the Community Support Framework's industrial business program.

The specific program, promoting women's business activity in professions, is budgeted at six billion drachmas and is covered 50-50 by EU participation and own capital

[19] German ambassador tours installations of Hellenic Vehicles Industry

Athens, 14/03/2001 (ANA)

The German diplomat, who was accompanied by Consul Leila Christmann, was welcomed by ELVO's president and managing director Dimitris Kamaryiannis and Ioannis Mytilineos respectively, who gave him a tour and briefed him on ELVO's programs.

[20] Greek budget revenues up 8.1 percent in February

Athens, 14/03/2001 (ANA)

Budget revenues were up by 33 billion drachmas from initial targets in the period.

Tax agencies' revenues increased 6.8 percent in February and 12.2 percent in the first two months of 2001, customs revenues fell 4.1 percent and rose 4.6 percent over the same period, while value added tax revenues increased 2.4 percent and 13.02 percent, respectively.

[21] Greece to launch new ferry lines in the Aegean Sea

Athens, 14/03/2001 (ANA)

The ministry hopes to facilitate the interconnection between all islands in the Aegean Sea and particularly remote islands with larger ones.

The tender will be held March 28.

[22] Ship owners disagree with lower age limit for vessels

Athens, 14/03/2001 (ANA)

The ship owners were commenting on a measure contained in a bill on deregulation and modernization of the passenger shipping market. The government had sought feedback in writing by March 12 from industry groups.

Reduction of the age limit would leave remote Greek islands without transport, as older vessels were used on these non-lucrative routes, the EEA said in a statement.

The move would also severely diminish the size of the Greek merchant fleet as out of a total of 124 ships, 77 would have to be withdrawn by 2006 under the new measure against 22 if the 35-year age limit were retained.

The ship owners union recommended using a new, 30-year limit for vessels entering the market, keeping 35 years for vessels already in operation, the statement said.

[23] International economy conference in Athens

Athens, 14/03/2001 (ANA)

The International Atlantic Economic Society, whose members have won 20 percent of Nobel economics awards, organizes the conference. The co-organizer is Greek Economic Sciences Society.

Around 300 delegates from 45 countries are expected to attend the meeting.

Presiding over the conference is Robert Mandel, a Nobel winner in 1999.

Expected to attend from Greece are the president of the Athens 2004 Olympics organizing committee, Gianna Angelopoulos-Daskalaki, and Athens Mayor Dimitris Avramopoulos.

[24] Goldman Sachs ranks Cosmote as emerging market out performer

Athens, 14/03/2001 (ANA)

The classification was based on the company's rate of growth, which outpaced the average, leading to the market out performer rating, Goldman Sachs said in a report on Tuesday, carried by Reuters news agency.

Greece's two other mobile phone operators, Panafon and Stet Hellas, were classed as market performers, whose growth was in line with the sector, the report said.

Hellenic Telecommunications Organization, Cosmote's parent firm, also was ranked as a market performer.

[25] Greek stocks follow world markets' decline

Athens, 14/03/2001 (ANA)

Traders said more than 36 small cap shares, in the textile, retailing, construction and miscellaneous sectors, ended the day with gains exceeding 10 percent pushing turnover above 100 billion drachmas.

The general index ended 0.86 percent lower at 3,231.03 points, with turnover 293.66 million euros, or 100.06 billion drachmas.

The FTSE/ASE 20 index for blue chip and heavy traded stocks ended 0.78 percent lower at 1,828.2 points, and the FTSE/ASE 40 index fell 0.08 percent to 396.07 points.

Sector indices ended as follows: Banks: 6,764.98 -0.73% Telecoms: 1,054.24 -0.05% Insurance: 1,460.27 -0.86% Investments: 1,319.31 -1.34% Construction: 1,574.48 +0.95% Industrials: 2,025.19 -1.33% Miscellaneous: 2,374.42 +0.43% Holding: 3,666.30 -0.31% Base metals: 1,051.41 -2.03% Minerals: 1,065.42 -1.02% Publishing: 1,065.65 -1.68% Textiles: 1,339.41 +4.25% Retailing: 1,228.25 +2.58% IT: 1,153.53 -1.57% IT solutions: 1,119.83 -1.25%

The parallel market index for smaller capitalization stocks ended at 365.42 points, off 0.69 percent.

Broadly, decliners led advancers by 206 to 140 with another 13 issues unchanged.

Hellenic Telecoms, Naoussa Spinning, Klonatex, Doudos and Alpha Bank were the most heavily traded stocks.

Olympic Catering, Allatini Ceramics, Kekrops, Vis, Doudos, and Giannousis led the rally with gains more than 11.95 percent, while Hellenic Biscuits, Nextnet, Lyberis Publications, Eskimo and Dionik suffered the heaviest losses.

National Bank: 39.68 Alpha Bank: 30.36 Commercial Bank: 49.96 Eurobank: 20.12 Piraeus Bank: 13.94 Lambrakis Press: 13.70 Altec: 7.72 Intrasoft: 12.80 Titan Cement (c): 39.20 Hellenic Telecoms: 15.88 Panafon: 6.84 Hellenic Petroleum:

9.60 Attica Enterprises: 7.54 Intracom: 21.58 Mytilineos: 9.04 Minoan Lines: 5.00 Viohalco: 10.26

Coca Cola Hellas: 17.50

Equity futures end down, tracking Athens bourse: Equity futures traded on the Athens Derivatives Exchange finished lower on Tuesday, in line with the bourse indices on which they are based, traders said.

The FTSE/ASE 20 index closed 0.78 percent down, and the FTSE/ASE 40 ended 0.08 percent lower.

Turnover was 72.0 million euros on 12,104 contracts traded, the dealers said.

Bond prices nose down in heavy trade: Bond prices in the domestic secondary market on Tuesday finished lower in brisk trade.

The Greek benchmark 10-year bond showed a yield of 5.29 percent from 5.286 percent a day earlier.

The yield spread over German bunds was 55 basis points from 57.1 basis points in the previous session

Turnover through the central bank's electronic system totalled 1.2 billion euros (427.6 billion drachmas) from 425 million euros (144.8 billion drachmas)in trade the day before.

Sell orders accounted for 715 million euros of turnover.

[26] Environment minister presents time plan for extending metro

Athens, 14/03/2001 (ANA)

During a press conference at Syntagma station, Laliotis and Deputy Public Works Minister Athanassios Alevras presented a time plan for extending the network and adding new lines and connections.

Specifically, they said that work was now being carried out on a 2.8-kilometre tunnel to extend line 2 toward Peristeri in west Athens, where the first station at Agios Antonios would be ready in June 2004, while two more would be ready in December 2006. Work was also continuing on the one-kilometer link between Syntagma and Monastiraki, which was being dug using conventional methods rather than the massive tunnel-boring machinery used for other parts of the network, and was expected to open in March 2003.

A further extension of the same line from Monastiraki to the west Athens district of Egaleo, they said, spanning 4.3 kilometers and with an additional four stations, was expected to be ready in June 2005.

Meanwhile, the ministry is rapidly expediting processes for extending line 2 from Dafni to Ilioupolis in southeast Athens, with the digging of a 1.5-kilometre tunnel and station that is expected to be ready in June 2004.

Finally, the minister announced plans to extend line 3 from the Ethniki Amyna station to Stavros - a critical junction for accessing the new Athens airport at Spata. This section of the metro, he added, would be 5.3 kilometers long and would include two stations that would be ready in June 2004 and a further three stations that would be ready in June 2006.

During the press conference, Laliotis also referred extensively to criticism by main opposition New Democracy regarding the new airport at Spata, saying that they had made the same doomsday predictions about the opening of the existing metro a year earlier and had been proved wrong.

The minister reported that the Athens metro had transported 85 million passengers during the first year of its operation, and that this number was expected to rise to 110 million in 2001, with 400,000 people using it each day.

[27] Operational action program aims at strengthening ties with overseas Greeks

Athens, 14/03/2001 (ANA)

The program is included in the contract signed on Tuesday between the interior ministry and the foreign ministry's Overseas Hellenism general secretariat.

The program will be implemented in 2001 will be funded by the two ministries with one billion drachmas and will concern organization projects, as well as technical infrastructure ones.

[28] Avramopoulos hails INKA contribution at Town Hall event

Athens, 14/03/2001 (ANA)

The Athens Mayor stressed the importance of the non-governmental group's services to the public, saying that it helped raise the quality of life, preserve public health and promote healthy competition and commerce.

[29] UK-Australia 'Kangaroo' air race contestants stop over on Crete

Athens, 14/03/2001 (ANA)

The prefectural and municipal officials, who handed out souvenirs, greeted the 38 pilots, including one 79-year-old woman, at the airport.

[30] Purloined Acropolis fragment returned by anonymous former tourist

Athens, 14/03/2001 (ANA)

A note that came with the ancient stone read: "I took this piece of marble from the Acropolis a long time ago. I'm very sorry. Please put it back where it belongs."

It was returned to the Culture ministry on Tuesday and will be forwarded to the Prehistoric and Classical Antiquities Committee.

[31] Prison authorities submit report on the Passaris escape case, to public order minister

Athens, 14/03/2001 (ANA)

The report noted that prisoners who were transported along with Passaris said they were not handcuffed as the law specifically orders.

This report was submitted to Public Order Minister Michalis Chrysohoidis on Tuesday. A separate investigation is looking into the lack-luster performance of the guards transporting the convict to the hospital where he shot all three guards and escaped.

Passaris was being transported to the General State Hospital in Athens from Korydallos prison, where he was incarcerated, for medical tests. Two policemen escorting Passaris were fatally shot and an accompanying prison guard seriously injured in an ambush by two gun-toting accomplices of the convict, inside the hospital.

Passaris was convicted in connection with a "Wild West"-style shootout with police in downtown Athens. Three police officers were injured in the incident, while one of the gunmen, believed to be a 20-year-old Romanian national, was killed in the exchange of gunfire.

Police said at the time that a hand grenade and a loaded automatic handgun were found in his possession following the arrest near Amerikis Square in central Athens.

[32] US welcomes cooperation between Cyprus and Yugoslavia in transfer of funds issue

NICOSIA, 14/03/2001 (CNA/ANA)

Cyprus government spokesman Michalis Papapetrou said it was important that the US recognizes the government's full cooperation with Yugoslavia and the International Tribunal for investigations into allegations of illegal transfer of funds out of Yugoslavia.

Following US press allegations of involvement of Cyprus in money laundering, State Department spokesman Richard Boucher has said "the Cyprus authorities have taken some steps to stop flows of Yugoslav assets through Cyprus, including closing the Beogradska Bank's offshore banking unit and freezing accounts held by suspect Yugoslav nationals."

Cyprus, he said, is also working directly with the International Tribunal. Boucher, who served here as US ambassador, said "the US would like to see the fullest possible cooperation between Nicosia and the new authorities in Belgrade and obviously, we welcome the cooperation that exists."

Commenting on Boucher's statement, Papapetrou said "what is important is that they too recognize that Cyprus is offering its full cooperation to Yugoslavia and the International Tribunal to investigate any illegality in Cyprus."

He said the US press reports were "of a general nature and unsubstantiated".

The Washington Post, which carried the report on Sunday, o Tuesday issued a correction saying that it mischaracterized remarks made to it by a lawyer in Cyprus.

Cyprus and Yugoslavia will work together in the coming months to establish whether funds amounting to billions of dollars belonging to the Yugoslav people were channeled through Cyprus and are deposited in local accounts, Foreign Minister Ioannis Kasoulides and the Governor of the Central Bank of Yugoslavia Mladjen Dinkic said here, after a lengthy meeting.

Dinkic has handed the government specific evidence about "illegal activities", account numbers and offshore companies belonging to Yugoslavs and said Cyprus is the first country which undertook the concrete step of cooperating, noting that other countries, such as Switzerland, Germany, England, South Africa and China, were used by the Yugoslav regime as a transit point.

The minister said the sole purpose of the series of meetings and the cooperation between the two countries is to look into allegations that money belonging to the Yugoslav people was wrongly taken from them by ex-officials or others and was filtered through the system in Cyprus.

"Cyprus has all the political will to cooperate on this issue and it has always been our policy to cooperate, if any evidence, information, suspicion or lead was given to us," Kasoulides said, adding this was a "first serious step" in the joint effort within the context of the Republic's Constitution and the law of the country. He said the cooperation initiated on Tuesday would continue in the coming months to achieve the set goal and assured that the authorities of the Republic will investigate the information afforded to it by Dinkic in order to find whatever evidence is available.

[33] President Clerides begins two-day official visit to Athens on May 2

President Glafcos Clerides leaves for Athens on 2 May for a two-day official visit at the invitation of his Greek counterpart Costis Stephanopoulos, government spokesman Michalis Papapetrou announced here on Tuesday.

The spokesman added that the president's visit to Athens aims at further strengthening the already excellent relations between Cyprus and Greece and dismissed suggestions that the visit is in any way connected to the upcoming parliamentary elections in May.

Replying to questions, the spokesman said that consultations with Athens on issues relating to Cyprus' European Union accession course and the Cyprus question "are frequent and continuous".

He said the current visit to Cyprus by Greek Foreign Minister George Papandreou is proof of that.

[34] Greek FM says leaving Cyprus with optimism over island's dynamism

NICOSIA, 14/03/2001 (ANA - G. Leonidas)

In statements at Larnaca Airport, he said he was leaving Cyprus with optimism over the island's dynamism.

He said that during his stay in Cyprus, he wished to send a European message, not only to Cypriot Hellenism, but also to the Turkish Cypriots whom he called upon to take the necessary decisions to participate in the European family.

He also said that he wanted to convey to all of Greece's partners that Cyprus is important for the European Union because it will obtain a dynamic member in a crucial region of the eastern Mediterranean and the Middle East.

[35] Greek foreign minister proclaimed honorary citizen of Paphos

PAPHOS, 14/03/2001 (CNA/ANA)

Papandreou, who was due to conclude on Tuesday a three-day visit to the island, toured Paphos and Limassol district on Tuesday to see the countryside and meet the locals.

Accepting the honor, the minister said the beauty of the island makes everybody think of it as an island of peace and not a symbol of conflict and occupation.

"Greece will work closely with the people of Cyprus until there is a just and viable solution of the Cyprus problem and until Cyprus joins the European Union," he said.

He also said Cyprus, divided since 1974 when Turkish troops invaded and occupied its northern areas, is an important part of Europe and can play a pivotal role in southeastern Mediterranean.

Presenting the award, Paphos Mayor Fedias Sarikas said the town is only fulfilling a debt due to someone who has proved with deeds his continuous and sincere support for Cyprus in its struggle for freedom.

Papandreou then visited Tsada village and Panayia village, home to the late president of Cyprus Archbishop Makarios III and laid a wreath at his statue.

The minister then visited the Monastery of Chrysoroyiatissa and then the mosque at Polis Chrysohou, on the northwestern coast.

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